hathaway



UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE."

WM. HATHAVAY, OF 'ORGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGXOR Tt) W'M. G. MAYNARD, OF SAME PLACE.

CLOTHES-FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it lnown that I, VVILLL-xir Herri-man1', of the city and county of VOrCeSter, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Frames, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, reference being` had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part ot this specification, in whichm4 Figure l represents a perspective view ot' a clothes frame embracing my improvements. Fig. 2 represents an elevation ot' the same when closed. Fig 3 represents a perspective view of a clothes frame with a modified arrangement of the cross bars.

The clothes frames as heretofore constructed when made to close by raising the outer post a difficulty has been experienced in retaining` the frame closed without especial devices for that purpose, such as a slid` ing ring or cord or other device to pass around and hold the frame. Some of the lrames are retained closed when new by the friction of the joints; but these when little worn or from other cause become loose and are thrown open in moving or by the slightest jar.

To remedy this defect is the object ot' my invention, which consists in arranging the joints by which the cross bars are connected with the center and outer posts, so that the center of motion of the outer end of the cross bar when the frame is raised will be directly over or within the center .of motion of the inner end oi the cross bar, by which means the weight ot' the outer post and cross bars, will be thrown over or within the center of motion of the inner end of the cross bar thus the frame is retained closed however loose the joints may be., without the aid of especial and independent devices, and is not liable to fall from jars or in being moved.

This iframe consists of a central post (A) supported by a foot block (B) with a series of outer posts (D) connected to the center by cross bars (E). To the central post is fitted a series of collars (a) at regular intervals, with projecting radial branches (b) to which the inner ends of the cross bars are pivoted, forming a hinge joint which allows the cross bars to be moved up and 22,398, dated December 21, 1858.

down. The outer end of the cross bar is hinged to the inner tace of the center post and each alternate bar may be pivoted as shown in Fig. 3 to opposite sides of the post.

Vhen hinged to the inner tace of the post the inner joints of each series of bars are directly over each other as are also the outer, and the length of the bars are less than the distance between the collars so that when the outer post is raised, the outer end of the cross bar may not strike the inner joint neXt above, but fall within so that the center ot'- the outer joint of the bar will be directly over or within the inner joint.

Vhen the cross bar is pivoted to the sides of the outer post as shown in Fig. 3 only alternate inner joints are in line, and their distance apart laterally is suliicient to admit the outer post to pass between them when raised; the cross bars are also longer than the distance between the collars, and overlap each other on either side of the outer post when raised against the center post, and the center of the outer joint is brought over the center of the inner joint of the cross bar. ln order to bring the outer oint of the cross bar within the inner (on the side toward the central post) when the frame is closed, the distance or" the center of motion of the inner joint` from the center of the central post diminishes from the lower to the upper joint of the series, in which case the cross bar and also the outer post stand inclined at the top from the vertical as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen from the arrangement of the joints, that when the frame is closed, the weight ot the cross bars and also of the outer post is thrown on the cross bars when they are on their dead centers or their centers in line vertically therefore the frame will remain closed however loose the joints may be without the aid of especial or independent devices to effect this result and it will not be liable to fall from jars or in being moved.

The size, form, and dimensions of the frame and also the number of frames, hinged to the central post, may be varied as circumstances require without effecting my 1mprovementin the arrangement ot' the joints.

Having thus described my improvements inner end of the Gross bur for the purpose 10 in clothes frames what I claim therein as Set forth. new, and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent In testimony whereof I have subscribed smy name.

Arrangnfr the center of motion of the T cross bars sbstantally as described so that WM HATHAWA' the center of motion of the outer end of the IVtnesses:

Cross bar when the rzune is closed will be IV. W. RICE, over or within the center of motion of the THOMAS EARLE. 

